Cameron doubts Boris police plan

Mr Johnson wants the power to appoint the next Met commissioner

Tory leader David Cameron has questioned London Mayor Boris Johnson's desire for the power to appoint the head of the Metropolitan Police.

At the Tory conference Mr Johnson repeated his view that the mayor should appoint the next Met commissioner.

But Mr Cameron said such "big upheaval" may not help police to deal with the current terrorist threat.

The Met commissioner is jointly appointed by the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Home Secretary.

On Sunday Mr Johnson told the Tory conference in Birmingham that he would not "intervene in day-to-day operations" when he becomes chair of the MPA in October.

"But if the mayor is to hold the police to account, and if the mayor is to be held accountable for the level of crime in London - as he or she must be - then that means having proper power of appointment over the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police," he added.

We have got to answer the question 'does terrorism stay with the Met?' David Cameron

The role of Met commissioner is currently held by Sir Ian Blair.

Mr Cameron told the BBC that he "totally understands" the pressure Mr Johnson is under.

"On the one hand we want greater accountability, and some of that goes through the mayor. We want that, that's important for Londoners," Mr Cameron said.

"But on the other hand we have got to answer the question 'does terrorism stay with the Met?' Is change, is that big upheaval, the right thing to do when we are facing a terrorist threat?"

The MPA was not available to comment.